DERBY North MP Bob Laxton has said it is "crucial" that the Government award a £1.4bn contract to city train-maker Bombardier.

Speaking in the House of Commons during a debate on Thameslink, Mr Laxton told fellow MPs that the contract to build up to 1,200 carriages for the project should go to the Litchurch Lane firm to protect UK jobs.

Maintenance work on the fleet is likely to be worth several billion pounds to Bombardier over the life of the contract.

Bombardier, which is the last remaining UK-based train builder, is up against the German firm Siemens Mobility to become the preferred bidder.

Yesterday the Derby Telegraph revealed that a decision on the preferred bidder would be made in the summer.

Speaking in the House, Mr Laxton said: "It is crucial for my constituents and for the rail industry in total that this order goes to the only UK-based train assembler or manufacturer that is left in the country.

"I find it ironic that after 150 years or more of the rail industry, if this order went to a company outside the UK, it could be the end of train manufacturing here in the UK and with it could go many jobs – 2,500 in Derby and 12,000 or thereabouts in the supply chain.

"It is crucial that this contract goes ahead and equally crucial that it is awarded to a UK-based company."

Mr Laxton also repeated his criticism of the Department for Transport's decision to select Agility Trains as the preferred bidder for another multi-billion pound contract, the Intercity Express Programme (IEP).

In February last year, the DfT chose a consortium headed by Japanese train-maker Hitachi ahead of the consortium which included Bombardier.

The decision prompted the Derby Telegraph to launch its Change Track campaign, which called on the DfT to reconsider its decision.

Although Agility is the preferred bidder the IEP contract, worth £7.5bn, is yet to be signed.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers has said if the Conservatives win the election, she intends to review all of the Government's rail contracts.

A spokesman from the DfT said ministers hoped to announce the preferred bidder for the contract for the Thameslink project – which runs from Bedford to Brighton – in the autumn.

He added that final negotiations with Agility Trains for the IEP contract were ongoing and ministers hoped to have the contract signed "soon".